THE MEMORY of East Neuk woman Fiona Watson (pictured)—one of the victims of a terrorist bomb attack in Iraq last summer—will live on thanks to a collaboration involving her family, the United Nations and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

The Fiona Watson Memorial Fund is designed to create a legacy that will reflect the sort of person Fiona was and what she achieved: a great ambassador for her country who—through her intelligence, courage and force of personality—seized the opportunity to work at international level and made a tremendous contribution to the UN.

Her parents Andrew and Marget, who live in Pittenweem, and brother Hamish have consulted widely about the most appropriate form of memorial.

Fiona—political adviser to the special representative of the Secretary General, Sergio Viera de Mello—was one of 22 UN peacekeepers killed in a suicide bomb blast at its headquarters in Baghdad in August.

Now, in recognition of her contribution to the organisation, the UN has agreed to make available one internship every year to an outstanding final-year student from Heriot-Watt University, where Fiona gained a first-class honours degree in languages.

Hamish said the university executive will select the winning student, who will have demonstrated outstanding ability during their studies, and make an award from the fund to cover travel and living expenses during the internship.

He added, “We feel that this is a very fitting way to keep the memory of Fiona alive. It will be truly satisfying in years to come to reflect that, thanks to the donations of those who knew her, an ever-increasing band of talented young people will have had an experience which is bound to change their view of the world and, quite possibly, their lives.”

The appeal is aiming for a target figure of £100,000, which will ensure that an annual award can be made in perpetuity.

Fiona Watson was a gifted and experienced linguist who had worked in a prominent capacity with the UN for almost four years as a political analyst. Born and brought up in Pittenweem, she lived in New York. She had spent a short holiday with her family shortly before her return to Iraq in August.

During her career with the UN she had been involved in many of the world’s hot spots, including Bosnia and Kosovo. Prior to joining the UN she worked with the European Commission and for a period was with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

After leaving Pittenweem Primary School, Fiona moved to St Katharines, the preparatory establishment attached to the independent St Leonards School in St Andrews. She transferred to St Leonards in 1980.

Fiona was a first-class BA honours graduate from Heriot-Watt University in languages, interpreting and translation. She later attained her masters degree, in international relations, from Darwin College, Cambridge.

A spokesperson for Heriot-Watt University said yesterday, “It was clear from the many moving tributes to Fiona that she was an outstanding young woman, with a rare combination of intellectual brilliance, vitality, compassion and humour.

“She was a high-flyer who was destined for great things in her career, but her drive was well tempered by her close friendships and her strong connection to her family in Fife. A marvellous ambassador for Scotland and a person who evoked respect and affection in equal measure wherever she went, Fiona is deeply mourned by all who knew her.”

Donations to the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund can be made online at www.hw.ac.uk/fionawatsonfund, by telephone on 44 (0)131 451 3408 or to the Lloyds TSB, 28 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 2DS, sort code 30-25-81, account number 00842225.